A Comparative Study of Vertical Fire Spread Characteristics in Building Exterior Walls According to Exterior Material Type by Using FDS

doi:10.15683/kosdi.2026.9.30.1028

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2026 Vol.22, Issue 3 Preview Page Next Page

Original Article

A Comparative Study of Vertical Fire Spread Characteristics in Building Exterior Walls According to Exterior Material Type by Using FDS FDS를 이용한 외장재 종류에 따른 건축물 외벽 수직화재확산 특성 비교 연구: 주유빈¹ㆍ최두찬²ㆍ김상일³*
Yu Bin Joo¹, Doo Chan Choi², Sang Il Kim³*; ¹Researcher, Future Initiative R&D Center, KF UBIS CO., Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea
²Chief Executive Officer, KF UBIS CO., Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea
³President, KF UBIS CO., Ltd, Seoul, Republic of Korea

30 September 2026. pp. 1028-1045

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Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to compare and analyze the characteristics of vertical fire spread on building exterior walls according to the type of exterior material using fire simulation. Method: Fire simulations were conducted under the same building geometry and fire scenario conditions by applying EPS panel and Mineral Wool as exterior materials, and the results were compared in terms of HRR, exterior wall temperature distribution, flame spread behavior, and window opening conditions. Result: The simulation results showed that the EPS panel model exhibited a continuous increase in HRR and vertical flame spread to the upper floors after ignition of the exterior material, whereas the Mineral Wool model showed limited fire spread due to the absence of combustion of the exterior material itself. Conclusion: The combustibility of exterior materials is a major factor affecting vertical fire spread on building exterior walls, and the application of non-combustible exterior materials is considered effective in reducing the risk of fire spread to upper floors through exterior walls.

Keywords

Exterior Material

Vertical Fire Spread

Fire Simulation

EPS Panel

Mineral Wool

연구목적: 본 연구는 화재 시뮬레이션을 활용하여 외장재 종류에 따른 건축물 외벽 수직화재확산 특성을 비교·분석하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 연구방법: 동일한 건축물 형상과 화재 시나리오 조건에서 외장재를 EPS 패널과 Mineral Wool로 구분하여 시뮬레이션을 수행하고, HRR, 외벽 온도분포, 화염 확산 양상 및 창호 개방 여부를 비교하였다. 연구결과: 시뮬레이션 결과, EPS 패널 적용 모델은 외장재 착화 이후 HRR이 지속적으로 증가하고 화염이 상층부까지 확산된 반면, Mineral Wool 적용 모델은 외장재 자체 연소가 발생하지 않아 화재확산이 제한적으로 나타났다. 결론: 외장재의 연소성은 건축물 외벽 수직화재확산에 큰 영향을 미치는 주요 인자이며, 불연성 외장재 적용은 외벽을 통한 상층부 화재확산 위험을 저감하는 데 효과적인 것으로 분석되었다.

키워드

외장재

수직화재확산

화재 시뮬레이션

EPS 패널

Mineral Wool

References

Ahn, C.-S., Kim, H.-Y., You, Y.-H., Kim, H.-J. (2012). “A numerical analysis for fire spread mechanism of residential building fire.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 31-37.
Choi, C.-K., Min, S.-H. (2012). “A study on the large experiments (ISO 13785-2) for vertical fire behavior analysis of aluminum composite panels in general and flame-retardant material.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 92-98. 10.7731/KIFSE.2012.26.6.092
Gu, S.-H., Song, Y.-J. (2016). “A study on the fire alarm system of vertical fire spread structure by using FDS.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 100-107. 10.7731/KIFSE.2016.30.5.100
Joo, Y.-B., Son, E.-S., Kim, S.-I., Choi, D.-C. (2024). “A study on the fire diffusion model of loadable materials in rack-type warehouse using FDS.” Journal of the Korea Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 672-681.
Kweon, O.-S., Yoo, Y.-H., Kim, H.-Y., Kim, J.-H., Min, S.-H. (2012). “The real scale fire tests for vertical fire spread study of external finishing material.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 85-91.
Kweon, O.-S., Yoo, Y.-H., Kim, H.-Y., Min, S.-H. (2012). “Experimental study of vertical fire spread of exterior wall finishing materials.” Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 1-6. 10.9798/KOSHAM.2012.12.5.001
Min, S.-H. (2013). “A study on fire risk of multi-family apartment houses constructed with the exterior of the EIFS.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 60-65. 10.7731/KIFSE.2013.27.3.060
Min, S.-H., Lee, J.-M. (2013). “A study on the fire reconstruction of exterior on high-rise building (Focus on fire case including the Woosin Golden Suite in Haeundae).” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 25-30.
Min, S.-H., Yoon, J.-E. (2009). “A study on the modeling of vertical spread fire of exterior panel by Fire Dynamic Simulation (FDS).” Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 77-85.
Song, Y.-J., Gu, S.-H., Kim, H.-J., Park, D.-J., Park, J.-M. (2012). “A study on the fire spread through curtain wall system with Fire Simulations (FDS).” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 31-37. 10.7731/KIFSE.2012.26.6.031
Yoon, J.-E., Min, S.-H., Kim, M.-S., Choi, S.-B. (2010). “A study on the fire characteristics of aluminum composite panel by large scale calorimeter.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 89-96.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Disaster Information
Publisher(Ko) :한국재난정보학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
Journal Title(Ko) :한국재난정보학회논문집
Volume : 22
No :3
Pages :1028-1045
DOI :https://doi.org/10.15683/kosdi.2026.9.30.1028

[1] Ahn, C.-S., Kim, H.-Y., You, Y.-H., Kim, H.-J. (2012). “A numerical analysis for fire spread mechanism of residential building fire.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 31-37.

[2] Choi, C.-K., Min, S.-H. (2012). “A study on the large experiments (ISO 13785-2) for vertical fire behavior analysis of aluminum composite panels in general and flame-retardant material.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 92-98. 10.7731/KIFSE.2012.26.6.092

[3] Gu, S.-H., Song, Y.-J. (2016). “A study on the fire alarm system of vertical fire spread structure by using FDS.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 100-107. 10.7731/KIFSE.2016.30.5.100

[4] Joo, Y.-B., Son, E.-S., Kim, S.-I., Choi, D.-C. (2024). “A study on the fire diffusion model of loadable materials in rack-type warehouse using FDS.” Journal of the Korea Society of Disaster Information, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 672-681.

[5] Kweon, O.-S., Yoo, Y.-H., Kim, H.-Y., Kim, J.-H., Min, S.-H. (2012). “The real scale fire tests for vertical fire spread study of external finishing material.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 85-91.

[6] Kweon, O.-S., Yoo, Y.-H., Kim, H.-Y., Min, S.-H. (2012). “Experimental study of vertical fire spread of exterior wall finishing materials.” Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp. 1-6. 10.9798/KOSHAM.2012.12.5.001

[7] Min, S.-H. (2013). “A study on fire risk of multi-family apartment houses constructed with the exterior of the EIFS.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 60-65. 10.7731/KIFSE.2013.27.3.060

[8] Min, S.-H., Lee, J.-M. (2013). “A study on the fire reconstruction of exterior on high-rise building (Focus on fire case including the Woosin Golden Suite in Haeundae).” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 25-30.

[9] Min, S.-H., Yoon, J.-E. (2009). “A study on the modeling of vertical spread fire of exterior panel by Fire Dynamic Simulation (FDS).” Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 77-85.

[10] Song, Y.-J., Gu, S.-H., Kim, H.-J., Park, D.-J., Park, J.-M. (2012). “A study on the fire spread through curtain wall system with Fire Simulations (FDS).” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 26, No. 6, pp. 31-37. 10.7731/KIFSE.2012.26.6.031

[11] Yoon, J.-E., Min, S.-H., Kim, M.-S., Choi, S.-B. (2010). “A study on the fire characteristics of aluminum composite panel by large scale calorimeter.” Journal of Korean Institute of Fire Science & Engineering, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 89-96.

Journal of the Society of Disaster Information ISSN:1976-2208(Print) 2671-5287(Online) 한국재난정보학회논문집

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